How to install System M stainless wire balustrade
System M wire balustrade kits are relatively easy to install. All you need is a tape, hammer drill, masonry drill bit, masonry anchor setting tool and spanner.
- Use a template to mark your holes.
- Drill 8mm diameter holes to a depth of exactly 50mm. A piece of tape can be wrapped around your drill at this depth.
- Insert the Stainless Drop in Anchor into the hole and push down until it bottoms.
- Insert a rod or setting tool (punch) into the mouth of the anchor and hit it with a hammer to drive the expander plug down and lock the drop in anchor into the hole. The shoulder of the punch should finish level with the top of the anchor.
- The balustrade wire with LHT / RHT stainless swage studs attached is then started into the inserts at each end.
- The wire is then tensioned by rotating the whole wire and swage studs into both masonry anchors. Final tension can be applied to the swage with a spanner and the locknut is then tightened down onto the anchor to lock it in place.
- If any damage occurs to the masonry surface when drilling the holes, stainless steel washers can be inserted between the swage studs and the anchor points to mask this.
System M is suitable for runs up to 8 metres. For longer straight runs, you can simply split the long run into two shorter runs.
The stainless balustrade wires should be spaced a maximum of 80mm apart, provided the distance between the intermediate posts is no greater than 1200mm.
Do not bend wire around corners. It can damage the balustrade wire, put excessive stress on the anchor posts and make it difficult to tension. It is also not compliant with the building code requirements.
The tension of the stainless wire balustrade can be checked by hanging a full 2L milk container on the wire in the mid-point between the posts and measuring the deflection. If the wire deflects more than is allowed by the BCA Guidelines then it will need to be tensioned further. Be careful not to over tension the wires as this will put excessive strain on your anchor posts.
Drill a 7.5mm hole to allow the swage stud to pass through any intermediate posts. If split grommets are to be inserted into intermediate posts, a 9.0mm hole is required.
Stainless balustrade supplies are shipped from AAA Metal Suppliers' factory in Sydney.
Swivel Connectors for System M
Our DIY wire balustrade Swivel Connectors are used with System M where balustrades change direction, such as staircases and inclines. Available in both Left Hand Threads and Right Hand Threads, these swivels screw directly into the Masonry Anchors on the anchor posts. The other end of the connectors have a female thread to accept the swaged studs.
The stainless balustrade wire is easily inclined and tensioned from both ends by simultaneously rotating the left and right hand swaged threaded studs into the left and right hand swivel connectors.
